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UJ out to defend Varsity Hockey title

The fifth Varsity Hockey season gets underway on 5 May in Stellenbosch and this year it is the turn of the ladies to do battle for the title.

Defending champions University of Johannesburg (UJ) will look to repeat their 2015 success when they face seven other universities including University of Pretoria (UP-Tuks), University of Stellenbosch (Maties), University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (Madibaz), University of the North West (NWU Puk) and University of the Free State (Kovsies).

The first leg will take place 5 – 8 May at the Maties Astro in Stellenbosch, with the second leg from 12 – 15 May at the NWU-Pukke Astro in Potchefstroom. UKZN qualified for Varsity Hockey, for the first time, after they eliminated the University of Cape Town (UCT) in last year’s USSA tournament.

“Varsity Hockey affords fantastic opportunities to our student athletes, allowing them to prepare for other tournaments ahead of them,” said Jana Arlow, Varsity Hockey Manager. “We are excited to welcome UKZN to the Varsity Hockey family and look forward to seeing great talent unearthed.”

In 2015 UJ shocked Kovsies in the final by beating them 3-0 despite a resilient fightback from the team from Bloemfontein. This was Kovsies’ only defeat in the 2015 edition of Varsity Hockey. UP-Tuks and Wits will have no less than six national players, while newcomers UKZN will rely on captain and South African indoor player, Amy Greaves to lead the way.

Entry to both venues is free of charge but spectators will need to download their free ticket from the Varsity Sports App. Matches on three days, including 8, 14 and 15 May, will be televised on SuperSport along with the final set to be played on 22 May. Spectators will be treated to live music, on-field entertainment, sponsor giveaways, refreshments throughout the day compliments of Mugg & Bean, FNB, and Samsung.

Matches commence at 1:30pm on Friday, 5 May, when Wits will take on NWU-Puk at the Maties Astro.